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CONTENTS:
Island Basics - Oahu 101
Weather Tips
Customs Information
Honolulu International Airport
Currency
Taxation
Helpful Phone Numbers
ISLAND BASICS – OAHU 101
Honolulu is Hawaii’s largest city and is similar to any American metropolitan area; some even compare it to Los Angeles West. Unlike other American cities, however, Honolulu alsoconsists of rainforests, canyons, waterfalls, mountains, gold-sand beaches, and more.
The city center is about 12 miles wide and 26 miles long. Most of the residents live in the city proper, but there are a number of surrounding suburbs that also serve as residential neighborhoods.
Waikiki is the urban beach with over 170 high-rise hotels, hundreds of bars and restaurants, crowded streets, and constant action. This beach is the heart of it all.
Ala Moana is known for its famous shopping mall and beach. The mall has over 200 shops and attracts over 50 million customers a year.
Downtown is a small area that makes the financial and business sector of Honolulu. Within the span of a few blocks visitors can get the true history of the city from venders selling papayas. Joggers, fancy cars, Methodist churches that look like Asian temples, and businessmen on their way to million-dollar executive meetings dressed in aloha shirts all indicate a city unlike any other.
Manoa Valley was one of the first areas inhabited by non-native settlers. Vintage houses, beautiful botanical gardens, the gushing Manoa Falls, and the University of Hawaii with 50,000 students make this area unique.
Kahala is nothing but luxurious estates, affluent restaurants, and premier hotels. Home to the world’s topmost millionaires, this eastern area is not typically interesting to visitors.
WEATHER TIPS
Hawaii only has two seasons, dry and rainy, both of which are warm. The year-round temperature varies no more than 10°F. On the leeward side, most of Honolulu and Waikiki, it is usually hot and dry, but on the windward side, Haleiwa and Waimanalo, it is cooler and moist. Particularly in the summer months from June through August, be prepared for average temperatures around 82°F.
CUSTOMS INFORMATION
For further assistance regarding customs information refer to www.customs.ustreas.gov or call (202) 927-1770.
HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The Honolulu International Airport is on the south shore of Oahu, just west of downtown Honolulu and Waikiki, near Pearl Harbor. While the airport is large, it is very simple to navigate and once on the ground level taxis, shuttles, and car rental services are easy to access.
CURRENCY
The U.S. monetary system includes denominations of $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills. There are also four common denominations of coins: 1¢ (1 cent or a penny), 5¢ (a nickel), 10¢ (a dime), 25¢ (a quarter). Two less-common types of coins are worth 50¢ and $1.
Currency exchange bureaus can be found in many banks throughout the Oahu area. The Honolulu International Airport, A-1 Foreign Exchange (808) 922-3327, and Pacific Money Exchange (808) 924-9318 are all in the Waikiki area and offer currency exchange services. Hotels also offer currency exchange services, but the exchange rate is not as good as those offered at banks. It is also wise to check for currency exchange services through American Express (800) 525-7623 or www.americanexpress.com or visit travel.americanexpress.com additionally the Thomas Cook Currency Services are available and can be found at www.us.thomascook.com or by calling (800) 287-7362.
Traveler’s checks are widely accepted and used as well as credit cards and ATMs. The most used credit cards include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, and Carte Blanche. Some Hawaii venders may accept international cards like enRoute, Eurocard, and JCB. ATMs (automated teller machines) are plentiful in Waikiki, located on almost every block downtown.
TAXATION
The United States has no value-added tax or other indirect tax at the national level. Sales tax in Hawaii is 4.17% on meals, most goods, clothing, and services. Hotel room tax is 7.25%, making a combined total hotel tax of 11.42%.
HELPFUL PHONE NUMBERS
Emergencies, Fire, Police, Ambulance: 911
Time: (808) 983-3211
Temperature: (808) 973-4380
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